South Korea sees North Korea’s latest missile launch as a “significant provocation”

Yoon visits the submarine with the capacity to carry nuclear weapons deployed by the US in the area

July 19 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The South Korean authorities have described this Wednesday as “significant provocation” the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles by North Korea towards the Sea of ​​​​Japan, also known as the East Sea.

The launch, which occurs after the first shipment to the area in decades by the United States of a submarine capable of carrying nuclear weapons, took place around 3:30 p.m. (local time) and has crossed a distance of about 550 kilometers before falling into the water, according to information from the South Korean Army.

Thus, the Armed Forces have condemned in a statement these acts, which “damage peace not only on the Korean peninsula but in the entire international community” and constitute a “clear violation” of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council of United Nations.

The measure also coincides with the start of the dialogue between South Korea and the United States on the situation on the Korean peninsula due to the increase in tension in the region, according to information from the Yonhap news agency.

“Our Army will maintain its reaction capacity to respond to North Korea’s provocations,” the text states. Pyonyang last week carried out another ballistic test with an intercontinental missile ‘Hwasong-18’, a measure that was also condemned by the countries of the area.

Yoon Visits the Nuclear Submarine

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol boarded the USS Kentucky nuclear submarine on Wednesday, which is located at the Busan naval base, 320 kilometers from Seoul, the capital.

Yoon has conveyed to the North Korean authorities his willingness to maintain the “containment” measures in the area and has stated that this deployment shows the “clear commitment of South Korea and the United States” in this regard.

“The two countries will respond overwhelmingly and resolutely to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and ballistic threats through the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and regular deployments of strategic assets, such as the submarine,” it said.

With these measures, the parties hope that North Korea “does not even dream of carrying out a nuclear provocation” and warn that, if it does, this “will lead to the end of the regime.”

The establishment of the NCG dates back to last April, when the authorities of both countries agreed to create such a group to address nuclear and strategic planning among the allies and support their commitment to deterrence.